Decision of the Russian Bishops, on the Western Rite

Hieromonk Aidan (Keller) spoke by telephone with Bishop Jerome (Geronim) of Manhattan on November 10, 2009 (at about noon). The news from His Grace is as follows:

The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia has decided that all Western rite missions will fall under the authority of the Metropolitan, rather than the local bishop. This is true across the world, except, of course, in Russia.

This decision, like many others, has not been put down in writing, which is a particular issue of organisation not affecting the fact of the decision.

There is no change in the requirement that Western rite Liturgies include an explicit epiclesis in the anaphora or canon. The added epiclesis strengthens the epiclesis already present in the Roman Canon (St. Nicholas Cabasilas identifies the Supra Quae Propitio as that native epiclesis).


His Grace Bishop Jerome (Geronim) of Manhattan, Nov. 2009

A new version of the Psalter based largely upon the Coverdale psalms has been blessed for use by Bishop Jerome. Of course, other translations are also blessed for use, and no translation in use has been proscribed.

Vivat Metropolitanus Hilario Neo-Eboracensis. Ad multos annos, Domine!